Bacon package

ABSTRACT

A PACKAGE OF SLICED BACON WHEREIN A QUANTITY OF BACON SLICES ARE DISPOSED IN SHINGLED RELATION ON A RELATIVELY STIFF BACKING BOARD, WHICH IS ENCLOSED IN AN OUTER WRAPPER OF FILM MATERIAL OR AN OUTER CARTON OR COVERED ON ITS FACE SO AS TO ENCLOSE THE BACON, WITH THE BACKING BOARD HAVING A WINDOW FORMING APERTURE COVERED BY A FILM WHICH IS A GAS BARRIER, OR A TRANSPARENT AREA WHICH RENDERS VISIBLE FOR INSPECTION AT LEAST THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE BOTTOM FACE OF THE FIRST BACON SLICE IN THE SHINGLED STACK THEREOF, SUCH SLICE BEING DISPOSED IN FACE CONTACT WITH THE WINDOW MATERIAL SO AS TO PROTECT IT AGAINST DISCOLORATION. THE OUTER CARTON, WHEN EMPLOYED, IS PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE IN THE BACK WALL WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE SLICE VIEWING TRANSPARENT AREA IN THE BACKING BOARD.

April 9, 1974 o. E. SEIFERTH ETAL 3,803,332

moon PACKAGE 4 Filed Jan. 24, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 pr 1974 o. SEIFERTH AL BACON PACKAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1972 lllllll 'HIIIh-l N In April 1974 o. E. SEIFERTH ETAL 3,803,332

BACON PACKAGE Filed Jan 24 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,803,332 BACON PACKAGE Oscar E. Seiferth, Glenn M. Austin, and Donald L. Paul, Madison, Wis., assignorsto Oscar Mayer & Co. Inc., Madison, Wis.

Filed Jan. 24, 1972, Ser. No. 220,356 Int. Cl. B651) 25/06 US. Cl. 426-121 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package of sliced bacon wherein a quantity of bacon slices are disposed in shingled relation on a relatively stiff backing board, which is enclosed in an outer wrapper of film material or an outer carton or covered on its face so as to enclose the bacon, with the backing board having a window forming aperture covered by a film which is a gas barrier, or a transparent area which renders visible for inspection at least the major portion of the bottom face of the first bacon slice in the shingled stack thereof, such slice being disposed in face contact with the window material so as to protect it against discoloration. The outer carton, when employed, is provided with an aperture in the back wall which aligns with the slice viewing transparent area in the backing board.

This invention relates to packaging and is more particularly concerned with improvement in a package of sliced bacon or similar product.

In the packaging of sliced bacon it has become an almost universal practice to support the slices in shingled relation on a backing member which is then either (1) tucked or slid into a tubular outer carton, or (2) over- Wrapped or (3) its top face covered with a transparent or partially transparent wrapper member, generally a plastic film. In the latter two cases the package is usually vacuumized to further protect the product which is subject to less rapid discoloration and spoilage when in an oxygen-free environment. In these and other forms of sliced bacon packages the bacon strips or slices are arranged so that the lean meat or surface muscle portion is exposed on the top side of the shingled array and at least a portion thereof is visible through a window arrangement in the top side of the outer carton or through a transparent portion of the overwrapped or covering film material. This presents for inspection by the prospective purchaser of the package the most attractive side of the stack of bacon slices and also provides some basis for judging the quality of the product, that is, the proportion of lean meat to fat. Generally, exposure of the entire top side of the stack of slices is not desirable since the last slice placed on the pile, as it is sliced and packaged, may be only a partial slice in order to provide the weight required for the package. Furthermore, as is well known, the so-called secondary muscle that lies in the mid-portion of a bacon slice tends to fade rapidly on exposure to light. Consequently, these packages do not afford the prospective purchaser a view of one full slice so as to form a more accurate judgment of the quality of the slices. It is a general object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a package of sliced bacon in which there is adequate exposure of substantially one full slice of the package contents so as to enable a prospective purchaser to better judge the quality of the product.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a package for a quantity of sliced bacon wherein the bacon slices are arranged in shingled relation and wherein provision is made for viewing at least the greater portion of the bottom face of one of the slices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bacon package wherein a shingled group of bacon slices is arranged on a backing board and enclosed in an outer "ice wrapper, or covered by a film, with the backing board and the outer wrapper or covering film constructed so that the greater portion of the bottom face of at least one of the slices in the group may be viewed whereby there is provided an adequate basis for judging the relative amount of lean meat and fat in the slices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package for a plurality of bacon slices wherein the bacon slices are arranged in shingled relation on a backing board which is apertured so as to render visible at least the major portion of the bottom face of a full bacon slice when the slices are placed thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a package arrangement for a quantity of sliced bacon wherein the bacon slices are stacked on a relatively stiff backing board in shingled relation with the endmost slice in the stack disposed in flat engagement with a transparent film member which overlies a window through which the major portion of the face of the bacon slice may be viewed while close contact with the film protects the slice from exposure to oxygen-laden atmosphere which would otherwise cause rapid discoloration or spoilage.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the several forms of the package which are shown by Way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliced bacon package which incorporates the principal features of the invention, the package being shown with the top side or face uppermost;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom side or face of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away, the view being taken on the line 36 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the backing board on which the bacon slices or strips are arranged in forming the package;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another form of the package, the view showing the top face thereof;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the bottom face of the package of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away, the view being taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of FIG. '8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the backing board which is employed in forming the package of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another form of the package, the view showing the top face thereof;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the bottom side or face of the package of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away, the view being taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a bacon package 10 which comprises an assembly or stack 12 of bacon slices or strips b which are arranged in shingled relation on a backing board 14, with the backing board and the array of bacon slices or strips 12 enclosed between top and bottom cover or wrapper sheets 16 and 18. The cover sheets 16 and 18 are transparent and have their marginal portions sealed to each other about the periphery of the backing board 14. Preferably the space between the sheets 16 and 18 is vacuumized.

The backing board 14, which may be of any suitable material, such as, paperboard, plastic, or a laminate, is relatively stiff and has a generally rectangular main section on which the bacon slices B are supported. Along one side a generally rectangular flap 22 is provided which is adapted to be folded about the score line 24 so as to overlie the last or topmost bacon slice B in the assembly thereof and shield it from direct exposure to light. The fiap 22 also provides on its uppermost face, when folded over the bacon, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, space for product identification, advertising, or the like. Window forming apertures 26 are cut in the main section 20 of the backing board 14 and covered, on the inner face of the board, with a sheet of transparent plastic film 28 which is preferably a gas barrier, for example, Saran coated Mylar film, or the like. The transparency of the film 28 should be such that the bacon slice laid thereon can be clearly viewed therethrough. The apertures 26 are made of a size and have the general shape of a bacon slice. A single large aperture may, of course, be employed. The apertures are located on the board 14 so that when the assembly 12 of bacon slices B is placed thereon the entire bottom slice or at least the major portion of the bottom face of the first slice B which is disposed thereon will be visible through the apertures. The slice B is positioned flat-wise on the film 28 so that the bottom surface is in close contact with film 28 and not exposed to the deleterious effects of oxygen in the atmosphere, thereby insuring that it will not discolor or spoil due to the action of oxygen for a substantial period of time after the package is formed. Furthermore, since the bacon package 10 is ordinarily displayed so that only its top surface is exposed, the bottom slice viewable through the film 28 is normally not exposed to the light.

The overwrap or cover forming film material is a suitable transparent plastic film which is preferably gas impermeable and may be in the form of sheets 16 and 18 or in the form of a tube or pouch which is sealed to enclose the backing board 14 and bacon slice assembly 12.

The package 10, employing the backing board 14, may be formed on the machine which is described in Pat. No. 3,290,858 and in accordance with the method set forth in Pat. No. 3,083,106. When fully enclosed in the plastic film and vacuumized, the employment of the film 28 may be omitted.

The package 10 provides, on the front or top surface, a view of the top face of the stack of bacon slices except the top slice covered by the flap 22 and upon viewing the back of the package the window reveals, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom face of one slice in its entirety or very nearly the entire bottom or back face thereof, enabling the consumer to look at it at the point of purchase and make a judgment as to the quality of the group of slices within the package.

An other bacon package in a form which has had wide usage is illustrated at 30 in FIGS. 6 to 9. In this package, an assembly 32 of bacon slices or strip B is arranged on a backing board 34 and the backing board 34, with the bacon slice assembly 32 is enclosed in a tubular carton 35 having top and bottom walls 36 and 38 with provision for viewing the top face of the assembly 32 through a window in the top wall 36 and the bottom face of a single slice in its entirety or substantially the entire bottom surface thereof through a window in the bottom wall 38.

The backing board 34 may be of the same material as the backing board 14. It is generally rectangular and with apertures 46 positioned so as to show the bottom face of the first bacon slice B which is positioned on the board. A window sheet 48, of Saran coated Mylar, or like material, having gas barrier characteristics, is positioned over the apertures 46 so that the first bacon slice B which is laid down on the board 34 will be intimately pressed against the window sheet 48 and thus protected from exposure to oxygen and resultant discoloration. The backing board 34 serves as a tray for supporting the bacon as it is slid into the open end of the carton 35 in the packaging operation.

The carton 35 may be fabricated of paperboard or any suitable material. It is in the form of a tube of generally rectangular cross section, when opened up, with the top wall 36 having a relatively large aperture 50 which is covered by a transparent film sheet 52. The sheet 52 is positioned on the inside of the top wall 36 so as to cover the bacon slice assembly. The size of sheet 52 is such that substantially all of the top edges or marginal portions of the bacon slices are visible while sufiicient marginal space remains for product identification and advertising. The bottom or back wall 38 of the carton is provided with apertures 56 which are located so as to substantially align with the aperatures 46 in the backing board 34 when the latter is positioned in the carton 35, A window cover sheet 58 of suitable transparent film material, preferably the same as sheet 48, may be disposed over the apertures 56 so as to further protect the carton contents. One side of the carton is closed by a glue flap 60 while both ends of the carton 35 are closed by conventional end flap arrangements-62 which are sealed so as to prevent the entry of foreign matter into the carton. While this type package is not vacuumized, the assembly of bacon slices 32 is protected sutficiently to prevent deterioration during a normal shelf life period. The slice which is visible through the aligned apertures 46 and 56 will not discolor due to the action of oxygen thereon since it is in close contact with the gas impermeable window sheet 48 and thus protected against the effects of oxygen which would otherwise cause discoloration. Furthermore, as pointed out above, this slice is also normally not exposed so as to be subjected to the fading effect of light.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13 of the drawings, there is illustrated still another form of bacon package 60 which comprises an assembly or stack 62 of bacon slices or strips B, arranged in shingled relation on a backing board 64, with the backing board 64 and the array of bacon slices or strips 62 having a top cover or wrapper sheet 66. The cover sheet 66, which is provided with a transparent area for viewing the top face of the bacon slices, has its marginal portions sealed to marginal portions of the backing board 64 so as to enclose the bacon. Preferably, the space between the cover sheet 66 and backing board 64, in which the bacon stacked, is vacuumized.

The backing board 64, which may be of any suitable plastic material, is generally rectangular with a clear or transparent area 76 which is located so as to show the bottom face of the first bacon slices B laid down on the board. The remaining portions of the board will be printed or coated with color and/or advertising, cooking instructions, or the like, so as to be rendered substantially opaque. The clear or transparent area 76 is made of a size and has the general shape of a bacon slice and when the assembly 62 of bacon slices is placed thereon the entire bottom slice B or at least the major portion of the bottom face of the first slice B, which is disposed thereon, will be visible through the clear area 76.

The cover forming film material or wrapper sheet 66 is a suitable plastic film which is preferably gas impermeable. The cover sheet 66 will be printed with color and/ or advertising on a portion thereof, indicated at 80 in FIGS. 11 and 13, rendering it substantially opaque, while an area indicated at 82, will be left transparent so that a substantial portion of the top face of the stack of bacon slices is visible. The cover sheet 66 will be laid down over the bacon slice or strip assembly 62 and the margins sealed to the marginal portions of the backing board 64, as indicated at 84. The package 60 employing the backing board 64 and the cover sheet 66 may be vacuurnized.

We claim:

1. A sliced bacon package comprising a generally rec tangular backing member of relatively stiff, flat, nontransparent material, a plurality of bacon slices arranged lengthwise on the backing member with the slices overlapping each other so as to form a shingled stack on the top face of the backing member with at least a marginal portion of the top face of each slice exposed to view, said backing member having an apertured portion along one side margin which is of a size, shape and location to expose at least a major portion of the bottom face of only the bottom one of said bacon slices, a film of gas impermeable material covering said apertured portion said film being disposed on the top face of said backing member with the bottom face of said one bacon slice in flatwise, intimate engagement with said film material so as to minimize exposure of the bottom face of said one bacon slice to oxygen laden atmosphere and prevent rapid discoloration, said film being sufiiciently transparent so that said bottom face of said one bacon slice is viewable therethrough, and an outer cover enclosing said backing member and the stack of bacon slices thereon, said outer cover having a top wall with a transparent portion through which exposed portions of the top face of the stack of bacon slices may be viewed and having a bottom wall with an open or transparent portion aligned with the apertured portion of said backing member whereby to enable the botttom face of said one bacon slice to be viewed.

2. A sliced bacon package comprising a backing member in the form of a relatively stiff, flat, nontransparent, generally rectangular sheet material, a plurality of bacon slices arranged lengthwise on the backing member with the slices overlapping each other in a sidewise direction so as to form a shingled stack thereof on the top face of said backing member, and a top cover overlying the bacon slices arranged on the backing member, said cover having its margins sealed to the margins of the backing member so as to enclose the stack of bacon slices and having a transparent area through which a substantial portion of the top [face of the stack of slices is exposed to view, said backing member being sufiiceintly transparent only in substantially the same area as the bottom slice in the stack so as to substantially completely expose to view the bottom face of only the bottom one of the bacon slices in the stack thereof.

3. A sliced bacon package comprising relatively thin, generally rectangular container means having a fiat, nontransparent bottom support portion and a top cover portion, a plurality of bacon slices arranged lengthwise on said bottom support portion with the slices overlapping each other in a sidewise direction so as to form a shingled stack thereof on said bottom support portion with the lean surface of said stack exposed, said top cover portion having a window therein for viewing a substantial portion of the top surface of said stack of slices not including a major portion of the uppermost slice therein, said bottom support portion being nontransparent except in a window area underlying substantially all of the bottom surface of the bottom slice of said stack whereby said bottom surface of only said bottom slice may be viewed.

4. A sliced bacon package comprising a fiat, nontransparent, generally rectangular backing member of relatively stiff material, a plurality of bacon slices arranged lengthwise on the backin member with the slices overlapping each other so as to form a shingled array on the top face of the backing member, said backing member having an apertured portion which is of a size and shape to expose at leasat a major portion of the bottom face of only the bottom one of the bacon slices in the stack there of, a film of gas barrier material covering said apertured portion of said backing member with the bottom face of said bottom bacon slice in flatwise, intimate engagement with said film material, said film being sufficiently transparent so that said bottom slice may be viewed therethrough, and an outer cover enclosing said backing member and the array of bacon slices thereon which outer cover has a bottom wall formation with at least a portion through which the exposed portion of said bottom face of said bottom bacon slice is visible and a top wall with an opening or a transparent area through which a substantial portion of the top face of said shingled array of slices is exposed to view.

5. A sliced bacon package as set forth in claim 4 wherein said outer cover is in the form of a plastic film material having gas impermeable characteristics with portions of the top and bottom walls being transparent so as to permit a substantial portion of the top face of the arrayof bacon slices and substantially the entire bottom face of said bottom bacon slice to be viewed, and said package being vacuumized.

6. A sliced bacon package as set forth in claim 4 wherein said outer cover member is in the form of a tubular carton in which said backing board member and the array of bacon slices thereon is enclosed with said carton having a top wall with a window forming aperture of a size to expose a substantial portion of the top face of the stack of bacon slices and a transparent film covering said window, and said carton having a bottom wall in which there is an aperture constituting a window forming portion, and a transparent film covering said aperture.

7. A sliced bacon package comprising a backing member in the form of a relatively stiff, flat, nontransparent, generally rectangular sheet material, a plurality of bacon slices arranged lengthwise on the backing member with the slices overlapping each other in a sidewise direction so as to form a shingled stack thereof on the top face off said backing member, and an outer cover enclosing the backing member and the bacon slices arranged thereon with said cover having a top Wall with an opening or a transparent area through which a substantial portion of the top face of the stack of slices is exposed to View, said backing member being open or sufiiciently transparent only in substantially the same area as the bottom slice in the stack so as to substantially completely expose to view therethrough only the bottom face of the bottom one of the bacon slices in the stack thereof, and said outer cover having a bottom wall with an opening or a sufficiently transparent portion which is disposed so that the bottom face portion of said bottom slice which is exposed through the backing member may be viewed.

8. A sliced bacon package as set forth in claim 7 wherein said backing member is apertured so as to provide a window therein with the apertured portion having the general shape and size of said bottom bacon slice.

9. A sliced bacon package as set forth in claim 7 wherein said backing member is apertured along one side margin so as to provide a window for exposing the bottom face of the bottommost bacon slice in the stack thereof.

10. A sliced bacon package as set forth in claim 7 wherein said outer cover is'in the form of a tubular carton with top and back wall members, and said carton bottom wall member having a window forming aperture substantially aligned with the bottom face of said bottom bacon slice which is covered by a transparent film.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,703,384 11/1972 Seiferth et al. 99-171 LM X 3,013,886 12/1961 Lowe 99'-171 LM X 3,343,661 9/1967 Nugarus 22987 F X 3,682,365 8/1972 Reifers 99-174 X 3,357,625 12/1967 Malmgren 206-45.31 U R 3,490,576 1/ 1970 Alessi et a1. 22987 F X 3,580,413 5/1971 Quackenbush 99174 X 2,996,236 8/1961 Barr 99171 LM X 3,709,702 1/1973 Mahaify et al. 99-171 LM X 3,409,445 11/1968 Hall 22987 F X 3,335,848 8/1967 Frankenberg et al. 99174 X 3,117,875 l/l964 Burns et al. 99174 TOM R. MILES, Primary Examiner S. L. WEINSTEIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

Dedication 3,803,332.0scar E. Sezferth; Glenn M Austin; and Donald L. Paul, Madison, Wis. BACON PACKAGE. Patent dated Apr. 9, 1974. Dedication filed Oct. 5, 1981, by the assignee, Oscar Mayer & Co., Inc.

Hereby dedicates to the Public the entire remaining term of said patent.

[Official Gazette Jan. 5, 1982] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 803, 332 Dated April 9 1974 Inventor s Oscar E. Seiferth, Glenn M. Austin, 1-, a l

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 27, "improvement" should be improvements- Column 5, line 62, "leasat" should be --least--.

Column 6, line 12, delete "member" Column 6, line 51, "back" should be --bottom--..

Signed and sealed this 13th day of August 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0J66334. 

